Electric plug



May 1950 B. F. NAUSLAR 2,506,967

' ELECTRIC PLUG Filed April 4, 1947 INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN F: IVAUSLAR nesivr Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to an electric plug, more particularly for use inconnection with electric flat irons, coffee pots or other electricalappliances and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an electric plug of this class Which when engaged withmale plugs of a conventional electric flat iron or cofiee pot firmlygrips the prongs of said male plug preventing electric are from heatingand eroding the contacts of said male plug and my electric plug;

Second, to provide an electric plug of this class which employs springand cam means for forcing the movable contacts thereof laterally intoengagement with the prongs of a conventional male plug whereby intimatecontact with said prongs is automatically and constantly maintained;

Third, to provide an electric plug of this class having a push button atone end thereof operatively connected with a pair of movable contactsarranged to grip the prongs of a male plug whereby lateral movement ofsaid contacts may be readily accomplished when positioning my electricplug in connection with the prongs of a conventional male plug such asthose in connection with electric irons, cofiee pots or the like;

Fourth, to provide an electric plug of this class which is adapted toengage the prongs of a conventional male electric plug and is providedwith spring loaded contacts which engage said prongs for constantlyproviding tension in connection therewith preventing are between theprongs and said contacts;

Fifth, to provide an electric plug of this class which is very compact;

Sixth, to provide an electric plug of this class which is very simple tooperate; and

Seventh, to provide an electric plug of this class which is very simpleand economical of construction, efiicient in its action and which willnot readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters ofreference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my electric plug; Fig. 2 is a viewof one of the plates of my electric plug taken from the line 22 of Fig.1 showing the movable contacts in connection therewith; Fig. 3 is a viewof the other plate of my electrical plug taken from the line 3--3 ofFig. 1 showing the stationary contacts in connection therewith; Fig. 4is a transverse sec tional view taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 55 ofFig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawing.

The plates l and 2, stationary contacts 3 and 4, movable contacts 5 andii, push button 1, spring 8, connection shield 9, cord guides I0, cordII and the bolts l2 and i3 constitute the principal parts and portionsof my electric plug. I

The plates l and 2 are substantially flat members preferably made ofelectrical insulation material. The plate I is provided with slottedportions la in which the stationary contacts 3 and 4 are fixed by meansof the bolts to and lea, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to theopposite ends of which are connected the conductors I la of the cord i lwhich extends upwardly through the connection shield 9 and cord guideit]. These stationary contacts 3 and 4 align with recessed openings letin the plate I through which conventional electric plug prongs may beinserted when the plate I is in assembly with the plate 2 which isprovided with similar openings 2a aligning with the movable contacts 5and 6. These movable contacts 5 and 6 are slidably mounted in slottedportions 2d and are provided with shank portions 5a and 511,respectively, which slide in the recessed portions [6 and 2e of theplates I and 2 which recessed portions are arcuate in cross section, asshown best in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Connected to the opposite ends ofthese shank portions 5a and 5a is the push button 7 engaged by thespring 8, the opposite end or" which is fitted in the recess 2f of theplate 2 and the recess If of the plate i both of which recesses 2f andIf are arcuate in cross section. The push button 1 is reciprocallymounted in recessed portions 291 and lg of the plates 2 and I,respectively, all as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.Electrically connected to the stationary contacts 3 and 4 are the bolts3a. and 4a to which the conductor wires I! a are electrically connected.The connection shield 9 is preferably made of insulation material and isheld in place by the bolt l3 and the pins 2h, all as shown best in Fig.1 of the drawing. The cord guide I ll is preferably made of convolutionsof resilient wire and is fitted to the shield 9, as shown best in Fig. 1of the drawing. The movable contacts 5 and 6 in connection with theplate 2 are similar in constructlon and arrangement therefore thecontact 6 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing will be hereinafterdescribed in detail. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the recessedportion 21% is provided with an angularly inclined surface 27' engagedby the extending end 6b of the contact; 6 adjacent the semi-circular incross section opening portion 2a through which the prongs of theconventional male plug are inserted.

The operation-of-my electric plug is substantially as follows:

When in assembly, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, the operatordesiring to connect my electric plug with the prongs of a conventionalmale electric plug proceeds as follows: He first depresses the pushbutton I which compresses the spring 8 and shifts the movable contacts 5and 6 toward the openings 2a in the end of the plate 2. The end portions6b of the movable contacts 5 and 6 pass downwardly on the inclinedsurface 27'10f the recess.2d whereby;lateralshifting ;of r the. contacts-5 cand fi is promoted permitting the prongs of the-conventional maleplug to be inserted between the contacts 5 andilisandthe contacts 3and-4,,-respectively. .After said insertion, the push. button slis'released -permitting thesspring8 to force themovable contactso and 6longitudinally of the plate 2 forcing the same upwardly over theinclined;s11.rface2j whereby lateralmovement :of said contacts v5 and 5en- Though .I have shown and ,described a particwular construction,combination and arrangement of parts andportions, ,I do not wish to belimited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement,butdesire toincluclein the scope of my invention the construction,combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described, my invention, what I claimas new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. ,In anelectric plug of the class described, the combination .ofinsulating. means having .longitudinal openings therein,.a,pair,ofmovable contacts longitudinally slidablein said openings, a .pair .of 1stationary .contacts adjacent .said .openings, resilient .means tendingto force said movable contacts longitudinally of the ,axis of saidopenings, said insulation means. having inclined surfaceportions thereindirectedangularly and laterally of the longitudinalaxisof said openings,said inclined surface portions being adjacent said openingasaid movablecontacts having surface openings, said insulation means having inclinedsurface portions therein directed angularl and laterally of thelongitudinal axis of said open- ..ings,.said,inclined surface portionsbeing adjacent said openings, said movable contacts having surfaceportions engageable with said inclined surface portions, wherebylongitudinal movement of said contacts caused by said resilient meansmoves said movable contacts laterally of the .axis'of said O eningstoward said stationary contacts, electrical conductors inconnection withsaid stationary contacts.

3. Inan electric plug of the class described, the combination ofinsulating means having longitudinal openings therein, apair-of movablecontacts longitudinally slidable in said openings, a pair of stationarycontacts .adjacentsaid openings, resilient means tending to force saidmovable contacts longitudinally of the of said openings, said insulationmeans having inclined surface portions therein directed angularly andlaterally of the longitudinal ,axis of said openings, said inclinedsurfaceportions being adjacent said openings, saidmovable .contactshawing surface portions engageable with said inclined surface portions,whereby longitudinal movement of said contacts caused by said resilientmeans moves said movable contacts laterally of the axis ofsaid openingstoward said stationary contacts, electrical conductors in connectionwith said stationary contacts, a push-button connected with saidmovablecontacts and positioned externally of said insulation means.

BENJAMIN F. NAUSLAR.

:REFERENCES CITED Tliefollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,202,923 Trood Oct. 31, 19161,614,508 Saxe Jan. 18, 1927 1,674,441 McKinley June 19, 1923 2,014,056Van Noorden Sept. 10, 1935 2,117,029 Larsson May 10, 1938

